Shoe polish dispensing device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an improved polish dispensing device for use on a shoe working machine. More particularly, this invention includes a conduit support means removably mounted on a shoe working device at a position above a number of shoe working elements. The conduit means has a shoe polish container supported adjacent one end thereof with a shoe polish heating means located in an opposite end of the conduit. Air pressure means is operatively associated with a dispensing orifice on the shoe polish container for dispensing a quantity of shoe polish therefrom. Control means is operatively associated with the air pressure means for effecting a shoe polish dispensing operation. The shoe working machine includes hood means operatively associated with the shoe working elements and positioned relative to the shoe polish dispensing means whereby air flow created by the shoe working elements will be directed over the heating means for assistance in controlling the temperature of the shoe polish and heating means.

United States I Patent 1 Buice 1 Feb. 13, 1973 I54] SHOE POLISH DISPENSING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Hubert H. Buice, 4 N. Clarendon Rd., Avondale Estates, Ga. 30002 [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 67,341

[52] US. Cl. ..222/146 HE, 15/31, 15/34 [51] Int. Cl. ..B67d 5/62 [58] Field of Search ..222/l46 HE, 192, 146 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,679 ,4/l957 Martindale ..222/146 HE 3,396,418 8/1968 Kelly ..l5/3l Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon Attorney-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to an improved polish dispensing device for use on a shoe working machine. More particularly, this invention includes a conduit support means removably mounted on a shoe working device at a position above a number of shoe working elements. The conduit means has a shoe polish container supported adjacent one end thereof with a shoe polish heating means located in an opposite end of the conduit. Air pressure means is operatively associated with a dispensing orifice on the shoe polish container for dispensing a quantity of shoe polish therefrom. Control means is operatively associated with the air pressure means for effecting a shoe polish dispensing operation. The shoe working machine includes hood means operatively associated with the shoe working elements and positioned relative to the shoe polish dispensing means whereby air flow created by the shoe working elements will be directed over the heating means for assistance in controlling the temperature of the shoe polish and heating means.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEIDFEB 13 ms 3.716, 168

R SHEET i-UF.2

25 3O Q l6 2/ I NVENTOR.

QZUBERT H. BUICE mJM/M ATTORNEYS SHOE POLISH DISPENSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The shoe polish dispensing device of the present invention is particularly concerned with the shoe repair industry whereby a number of power driven shoe working elements, including rotary driven shoe buffing and shoe polishing brushes, are provided for performing various repair operations on a shoe. Numerous attempts have been made to provide automatic shoe polish dispensing devices for use with these shoe working machines. 7

However, previous shoe polish dispensing devices designed for use with shoe working machines were often complex in nature, uneconomical to manufacture and unreliable in operation.

The prior art shoe polish dispensing devices which are provided with heating means for heating shoe polish in a container, would often bake the shoe polish onto the container rendering the shoe polish container inoperative after a limited period of use.

Also, the prior art shoe polish dispensing devices used in combination with a shoe working machine would often develop an excessive amount of heat at certain locations relative to the shoe working elements.

In most of the prior art shoe polish dispensing devices used in combination with shoe working machines, the quantity of shoe polish dispensed was irregular, allowing excessive amounts of polish to be applied to the shoe atcertain times and insufficient amounts of polish at other times.

In the prior art shoe polish dispensing device used in combination with a shoe working machine, the shoe polish container is attached to the shoe working device in such a manner to prevent easily removal of the container for replenishing the supply of shoe polish contained therein as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shoe polish -dispensing device having a heating means for heating shoe polish contained in a container without baking the shoe polish to the sides of the container.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a shoe polish mounting device for use in mounting a shoe polish dispenser on a shoe working machine wherein the shoe polish dispensing device is easily removed for repair and replenishing the shoe polish in a container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a supporting conduit for use in supporting a shoe polish dispensing device on a shoe working machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoe polish dispensing device having a polish heating means wherein the polish dispensing device is located relative to rotary shoe working elements whereby air flow created by the shoe working elements will aid in controlling the temperature of the shoe polish heating means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoe polish dispensing device having air pressure control means for effecting a dispensing of shoe polish from a container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shoe polish container for use in a shoe polish dispensing device wherein the container includes cooling material located therein for preventing shoe polish from becoming baked onto the sides ofa container.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved polish dispensing device for use in combination with a shoe working machine which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and reliable in operation.

These and other objects and advantages in the details of construction will become apparent afterreading the following description of one illustrative embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters have been used to refer to the like parts throughout the several figures of drawing, and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a shoe working machine having the improved shoe polish dispensing device mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe polish dispensing device supporting mechanism, with certain parts broken away and shown in section for purposes of clarity; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section view of the shoe polish dispensing device support mechanism showing the heating element in an assembled relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the improved shoe polish dispensing device will be described with reference to a shoe working machine including support base 10, rotary driven shoe elements 14, motor drive means 15 and a shoe polish dispensing means and including supporting means 26, heating unit 35, shoe polish container 47 and air pressure control means 57.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shoe working machine is of conventional construction and includes a supporting base 10 having a pair of upstanding support legs 11. Legs 11 are provided with coaxially formed openings 12 for supporting cross shaft 13. (Only one of the upstanding legs 11 has been illustrated on the right side of supporting base 10, however, it is to be understood that a second leg would be provided on the left or opposite end of supporting base 10.) A plurality of shoe working elements 14 is fixed to shaft 13 for performing various shoe working functions such as buffing or polishing after a shoe has been repaired. The shoe working elements 14 are of conventional construction and the details are not illustrative herein.

As shown in FIG. I, shaft 13 and rotary shoe working elements 14 are driven by means of a motor 15. Power from motor 15 is delivered by a conventional belt and pulley means (not shown) to cross drive shaft 16. R- tary power from cross drive shaft 16 is delivered by means ofa conventional belt and pulley drive means 17 to a left extended end of shaft 13. Motor is provided with conventional control means (not shown) for effecting an operation thereof.

A hood 18 is provided on the shoe working machine for controlling the air current created by the shoe working elements. The hood 18 includes a pair of laterally spaced legs 19 which extend vertically upward in substantially parallel relationship adjacent opposite sides of a hood back 20. The hood back 20 terminates at a point above the shoe working elements 14 in a curved end portion 21, as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now particularly to HO. 1, the improved shoe polish dispensing device is supported on the curved upper end 21 of hood 18. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shoe polish dispensing device includes a rectangular shaped supporting conduit 26. Support conduit 26 includes an angular shaped end portion detailed for receiving a heating unit 35, as will be described in more detail herein below. A pair of support links 27 are connected to opposite side edges of support conduit 26 by means of conventional connecting screws 28. Each of the supporting links 27 includes an upwardly extended end portion provided with coaxially openings 29. A mounting clamp 30 is connected to the upper extended end of each of the supporting links 27, by means of a conventional connecting bolt 24 which extends through the openings in link 27 and openings in the supporting clamps 30. Each of the mounting clamps 30 is of conventional construction and includes a fixed abutment stop 31 and adjustable clamping surface 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting clamps 30 are detailed in dimension such that they are easily inserted over the curved upper end 21 of hood 18 and held in a set position by adjustment of the clamp adjustable surfaces 32.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the supporting conduit 26 includes a pair of flanges 33 extending inwardly a sufficient distance to provide a detailed supporting surface for a shoe polish container 47, as will be described in more detail herein below. A lower end of each of the flanges 33 are provided with inwardly directed tabs 34 detailed to provide abutment stops or limit position for insertions of the shoe polish container within the conduit 26. The above described conduit 26 with flanges 33 and tabs 34 will provide a detail supporting means which will permit a shoe polish container or bottle 47 to be easily inserted therein and removed therefrom as required in a shoe polish replenishing operation.

The shoe polish dispensing device includes a heating unit 35 mounted on a lower end of support conduit 26. Heating unit 35 includes a support bracket 36 having a pair of opposed and aligned upwardly directed notches 37. Extending downwardly from each side of the support bracket 36 is a formed supporting flange 38. Flanges 38 are detailed in form for receiving an electrical receptacle 39 therebetween. The electrical receptacle 39 is secured in position within flanges 38 by means of a conventional clamp 40 which is placed around flanges 38 and adjusted to a set position to clamp flanges 38 against an external surface of the electrical receptacle 39. Frictional contact from the internal surfaces of flanges 38 will securely hold the electrical receptacle in adesired set position.

Electrical receptacle 39 is of conventional construction and includes a manual control switch means 41 and an input supply line 42. Receptacle 39 is also provided with a threaded opening 43 for receiving a conventional electrical bulb means 44.

Heating unit 35 is secured in place on the lower end of supporting conduit 26 by inserting connecting bolts 45 which extends from opposite sides of support conduit 26 into the formed notches 37. After the bracket 36 has been aligned in a proper position on the lower end of support conduit 26, conventional wing nut means 46 are threadably mounted on connecting bolts 45 to secure the heating unit 35 in a desired set position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shoe polish container includes a cylindrical shaped bottle means 47. A cap 48 is secured to the top of bottle 47 by conventional means such as complimentary threaded portions (not shown). A dispensing orifice is secured to cap 48. Orifice 49 is provided with an opening connecting in flow communication with the internal area of bottle 47 by a conduit 50. The dispensing orifice 49 is secured to cap 48 by means of a bracket 51. Bracket 51 includes an alignment pin 52 detailed to be readily received within a complimentary opening 53 provided on the support conduit 26. A nozzle 54 is supported on the bracket 51 in a detailed location for directing a'stream of air across the orifice opening 49. The alignment pin 52 is provided for directing the stream of air in a desired direction relative to the shoe working machine. Nozzle 54 is connected by means of a threaded connection 55 to an air pressure supply line 56.

As shown in FIG. 1, a foot control actuator means 57 is provided for effecting operation of said air supply nozzle to direct a stream of air pressure across the orifice 49. The foot control means 57 is of conventional construction and could be connected to a valve control means within the air pressure supply line 56 or could be connected to an electrical switch means for initiating operation of a conventional air compressor which would supply air pressure to the supply line 56.

OPERATION The illustrative embodiment of the improved shoe polish dispensing device described hereinabove is easily attached to a conventional shoe working machine by securing the support conduit 26 in a desired position by clamping the support clamps 31 to a supporting framework such as a hood support means 18, as shown in FIG. 1. After the support conduit 26 has been secured in a desired position, the shoe polish container or bottle 47 is first fllled with a quantity of water. The amount of water placed in the bottle 47 is detailed so that the top level of water in the bottle 47 will be spaced slightly below the internal extended end of conduit 50, substantially as shown in FIG. 3. The water placed inside the shoe polish bottle or container 47 will serve as a cooling medium preventing shoe polish placed within the bottle from becoming baked to the surface portions of the bottle during a heating operation.

After a measured amount of cooling medium, such as water has been placed within the shoe polish container,

a quantity of shoe polish is placed therein, the cap 48 attached thereto and then the bottle is inserted within the conduit 26 between flanges 33. A lower limit position of bottle 47 within support conduit 26 is provided by means of the inturn tabs 34. As the bottle 47 is inserted in the supply conduit 26, the alignment pin 52 is inserted within an opening 53 to thereby align the dispensing nozzle 54 in a proper direction relative to the shoe working machine.

With the shoe polish dispensing device secured in place on a shoe working machine, the heating unit 35 is turned on by operation of the manual control switch 41 which will allow electrical current to flow to the bulb 44. A flow of current into bulb 44 will cause the bulb to generate heat which will be radiated upwardly through the conduit 26 to thereby heat the shoe polish contained within bottle 47.

As stated herein above, the water or cooling medium placed in the bottom of bottle 47 will prevent the shoe polish from becoming baked to the sides of the bottle or container. Due to the chemicals of the shoe polish, the shoe polish will not mix with the cooling water and will remain on the top surface of the water in a position to be drawn upwardly through conduit 50.

After the shoe polish dispensing device has been furnished with a supply of shoe polish and the heating turned on to heat the shoe polish, the polish can be dispensed therefrom as desired by operation of the foot control actuator means 57 to dispense a stream of air under pressure across the orifice 49. As a stream of air pressure passes across orifice 49, a detailed amount of shoe polish will be withdrawn upwardly through conduit 50 and dispensed within the high pressure air stream flowing across the orifice 49.

The rotary sho'e working elements 14 will create a flow of air upwardly along hood 18 and around the shoe polish dispenser conduit 26 and heating unit 35 to aid in controlling the temperature of heating unit and shoe polish dispenser.

It now becomes apparent that the above described illustrative embodiment of the shoe polish dispensing device is capable of obtaining the above stated objects and advantages. It is obvious that those skilled in the art may make modifications in the details of construction without departing from the spirit ofthe invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an improved polish dispensing device for use on a shoe working machine comprising, in combination; a frame support means, means on said frame support means for containing a quantity of shoe polish, means operatively associated with said shoe polish container for heating polish contained therein, air pressure means operatively associated with said container for dispensing a mist of shoe polish from said container, control means operatively associated with said air pressure means for effecting an operation of said dispensing means, a number of rotary driven shoe working elements operatively supported on said frame support means, hood means supported on said frame means and adapted to surround a portion of said rotary shoe working elements, and wherein said shoe polish container and said heating means are supported from said hood means at a position above said shoe workinfg elements, whereby air flow created by the operation 0 said rotary driven shoe working elements will be directed around said shoe dispensing means and in contact with said polish container and heating means.

2. In an improved polish dispensing device as described in claim 1 further characterized in that said shoe polish container includes a dispensing orifice having conduit means in flow communication with the internal portion of said container and wherein said air pressure means includes an air nozzle for directing a stream of air pressure across said orifice means for dispensing a mist of shoe polish in the direction of said air stream.

3. A device as in claim 1 further characterized in that said shoe polish container is supported adjacent one end ofa conduit means and wherein said heating means is supported in said conduit means at a position below said shoe polish container.

4. A device as in claim 3 further characterized in that said polish container and said heating means are independently supported by said conduit.

5. A device as in claim 3 further characterized in that said conduit means includes a recess portion adjacent one end detailed for slidably receiving said polish container.

6. A device as in claim 4 wherein said heating means is so mounted as to close the lower end ofsaid conduit. 

1. In an improved polish dispensing device for use on a shoe working machine comprising, in combination; a frame support means, means on said frame support means for containing a quantity of shoe polish, means operatively associated with said shoe polish container for heating polish contained therein, air pressure means operatively associated with said container for dispensing a mist of shoe polish from said container, control means operatively associated with said air pressure means for effecting an operation of said dispensing means, a number of rotary driven shoe working elements operatively supported on said frame support means, hood means supported on said frame means and adapted to surround a portion of said rotary shoe working elements, and wherein said shoe polish container and said heating means are supported from said hood means at a position above said shoe working elements, whereby air flow created by the operation of said rotary driven shoe working elements will be directed around said shoe dispensing means and in contact with said polish container and heating means.
 1. In an improved polish dispensing device for use on a shoe working machine comprising, in combination; a frame support means, means on said frame support means for containing a quantity of shoe polish, means operatively associated with said shoe polish container for heating polish contained therein, air pressure means operatively associated with said container for dispensing a mist of shoe polish from said container, control means operatively associated with said air pressure means for effecting an operation of said dispensing means, a number of rotary driven shoe working elements operatively supported on said frame support means, hood means supported on said frame means and adapted to surround a portion of said rotary shoe working elements, and wherein said shoe polish container and said heating means are supported from said hood means at a position above said shoe working elements, whereby air flow created by the operation of said rotary driven shoe working elements will be directed around said shoe dispensing means and in contact with said polish container and heating means.
 2. In an improved polish dispensing device as described in claim 1 further characterized in that said shoe polish container includes a dispensing orifice having conduit means in flow communication with the internal portion of said container and wherein said air pressure means includes an air nozzle for directing a stream of air pressure across said orifice means for dispensing a mist of shoe polish in the direction of said air stream.
 3. A device as in claim 1 further characterized in that said shoe polish container is supported adjacent one end of a conduit means and wherein said heating means is supported in said conduit means at a position below said shoe polish container.
 4. A device as in claim 3 further characterized in that said polish container and said heating means are independently supported by said conduit.
 5. A device as in claim 3 further characterized in that said conduit means includes a recess portion adjacent one end detailed for slidably receiving said polish container. 